Ottawa Senators open to trading signing rights for polarizing forward
Alright, let's huddle up and talk about the Ottawa Senators, because the front office is essentially holding a fire sale on a guy they don't want anywhere near their locker room. We're talking about Alex Formenton, the polarizing forward whose NHL rights are officially on the trade block, and honestly, it's one of those messy, behind-the-scenes dramas that the league doesn't love to advertise but everyone in the know is watching.Picture this: it’s like that scene in a movie where a character gets quietly written out of the script, and the producers are hoping no one in the audience notices. GM Steve Staios has publicly declared that Formenton won't be pulling on a Senators jersey again, which is the hockey equivalent of getting your key card deactivated before you even clean out your desk.But here’s the kicker—Staios has given Formenton’s agent, Darren Ferris, the green light to shop his client’s rights around the league. It’s a classic 'you break it, you buy it' scenario, or in this case, 'you find him a new home, or he’s stuck in Switzerland.' Ferris must be feeling like a real estate agent trying to sell a house with, let's say, some complicated history; he’s already juggling the Mitch Marner saga, and now he’s got to play matchmaker for a player whose reputation precedes him. Formenton, 26, is currently skating for HC Ambri-Piotta in Switzerland, a team he knows well and where he’s found some success, but let's be real—the Swiss league is like the G-League for NHL hopefuls; it’s a nice place to visit, but you wouldn’t want to build your career there if the big show is calling.The dude was drafted 47th overall in 2017, ahead of guys like Morgan Geekie and Mario Ferraro, and in his 109 NHL games, he racked up 39 points, with a solid 32-point season in 2021-22 that showed flashes of potential. But then the whole Team Canada legal mess dropped, with serious accusations that I won’t dive into here, but suffice it to say, it’s the kind of baggage that makes GMs break out in hives.Five players were involved, and while they’re all trying to claw their way back into hockey, it’s not as simple as just lacing up the skates. Teams have to weigh the talent against the potential fan backlash, and in today’s hyper-aware social media climate, signing Formenton could be a PR nightmare waiting to happen.Think of it like a team considering a trade for a player with a history of injuries—except instead of a bum knee, it’s a cloud of controversy. The Senators, for their part, have a logjam up front and a fanbase that’s already on edge; bringing Formenton back would be like throwing a lit match into a gas can, and Staios isn’t about to risk that.He’s essentially washing his hands of the situation, hoping some other team sees value in a speedy winger who can kill penalties and maybe chip in 15-20 goals if everything clicks. But will anyone bite? NHL Insider Darren Dreger says nothing is imminent, which in hockey speak means 'we’re in the early stages of a long, awkward courtship.' It’s a gamble—on one hand, Formenton brings NHL experience and a skill set that could help a contender or a rebuilding team, but on the other, he’s a distraction magnet. History shows us that players with off-ice issues can sometimes find redemption arcs—look at guys like Patrick Kane, who bounced back after some rocky years—but it’s not a given.The broader context here is the NHL’s ongoing struggle with how to handle players involved in legal troubles; the league wants to project a clean image, but GMs are always hunting for undervalued assets. If Ferris can broker a deal, it’ll likely be for a late-round pick or a minor leaguer, the kind of low-risk, high-reward move that could pay off if Formenton keeps his head down and produces.But if not, he might be stuck in Europe, dreaming of a return that never comes. It’s a classic sports story—talent vs.trouble, potential vs. perception—and for Alex Formenton, the next chapter depends on whether any team is willing to roll the dice.
JA
Jamie Wilson123k2 days ago
this whole situation feels so familiar, reminds me of when the league had to navigate the Tonya Harding scandal and the subsequent PR fallout for skating organizations. teams have always had to weigh talent against public perception, it's a historical calculus that rarely ends well for the player.
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